Cartoon of the day, The Island

Colombo Medical Faculty teachers in token strike on Monday

August 24, 2012, 9:47 pm , The Island

The Colombo Faculty of Medicine Teachers Association yesterday decided to stage a token strike on Monday over the failure of authorities to find a solution to the current trade union action by FUTA now nearing two months.

Following is the text of a media release issued by FMTA President Prof. Ravindra Fernando in this connection:

"Faculty of Medicine Teachers Association held a special general meeting today ( 23.08.2012) to discuss the recent development within the university system with regard to the trade union action taken by the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA). The membership noted with regret the unsatisfactory way in which this matter has been dealt by the relevant authorities and expressed their displeasure on closure of the universities.

"The FMTA felt that this national issue should be addressed and solved promptly to avoid a crisis situation. The trade union action taken by the FUTA has gone on for almost 2 months but no real effort has been put to resolve this matter yet. The FMTA Colombo feel that the relevant authorities should consider this as an important national issue and try to reach for an amicable solution for the demands put forward by the FUTA. The closure of universities is not the proper solution for this problem. It is genuine and proper dialogue between the two relevant parties which will help to solve this issue.

"Therefore as a mark of protest against the failure of relevant authorities to solve this matter the FMTA Colombo at the special general meeting today (23/08/2012) decided to go on a token strike on 27th August 2012. As a result the academic staff of the Medical Faculty Colombo will refrain from conducting any routine teaching activities on this day."

Malwatte prelate wants FUTA issue resolved through dialogue

August 24, 2012, 9:47 pm


By Cyril Wimalasurendre, The Island

KANDY – Most Venerable Mahanayake of Malwatte Chapter Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera stressed that the strike by the university teachers should be resolved through dialogue by a team including intellectuals. But at any cost the free education of the country should be perfected.

The Mahanayaka Thera made this remark when the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Nandimithra Ekanayaka called on him on Thursday afternoon to brief the prelate on the issue with the university teachers.

The Mahanayake cautioned that free education might be threatened by the opening of the private universities should be protected.

The facilities as well as the standard of education in the network of universities in the country should be raised, the Thera said

"It is not the revenue that is important. Admission of foreign students into the universities to be opened by the private sector should not be with the motive of foreign exchange," the prelate said.

He said tourism in the country was given priority, but there were instances where culture and values were destroyed. The coastal region and Hikkaduwa, in particular, had become sites of ill fame with the increase of tourist arrivals. There was a photograph of a foreigner embracing the image of the Buddha.

Deputy Minister of Higher Education Nandimithra Ekanayaka told the prelate that free education of the country would be protected at all costs.

Admission of foreign students to universities was a common practice in many countries, he said adding that the local students who could not get admission to State universities could enter the private universities and receive the degrees at a lower cost than from foreign universities.

Many students would be offered scholarships, he said.

The universities teachers who were on strike were hampering the education of the student population in the country’s universities, he charged.

The Deputy Minister said the university teachers were paid high salariesand cannot be raised as there was an accepted procedure for increasing salaries.

The Deputy Minister said the many demands put forward by university teachers had been resolved except the demand for the salary increase.

Thirteen universities were closed but not the Medical Faculties. Medical students did not join the students in other faculties to interrupt their own education. The universities were closed to prevent causing damage to property as well as prevent the students being drawn into disastrous activities as was done in 1971 and 1988, he added.

Educational facilities and hidden costs of  inequitable distribution

The Care of Children - 5

August 23, 2012, 7:23 pm , The Island


Significantly, I am rarely told about shortages of teachers for computing, but this does not mean that they are available. This was brought home to me graphically when I was discussing plans for use of some of my decentralized budget for education in Rideegama in Kurunagala. While I have over the last few years used part of the budget in the North, for entrepreneurship training for former combatants and this year for Vocational Training in Mullaitivu, and the rest in Ratnapura, where we concentrated on school education and English, I thought I should also more further afield, given that the Liberal Party has a couple of Pradeshiya Sabha members in Rideegama.

By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha

I have been deeply upset in recent months, at meetings of Divisional Secretariat Reconciliation Committee meetings in the North, at the continuing failure to address the problem of teacher shortages in key subjects. While there is heartening appreciation of the rebuilding of schools, at much better levels than ever before, I am constantly told that there are insufficient teachers for English and Maths and Science. Of course I know this is a problem elsewhere in the country too, but that is no excuse. Given that it is those in rural communities who suffer most, I can only hope that those concerned with basic rights will at some stage institute legal action to ensure equity in education, and force government to look at alternative systems of teacher training and teacher supply, instead of sticking with the statist centralized model that has so signally failed for so long.

Significantly, I am rarely told about shortages of teachers for computing, but this does not mean that they are available. This was brought home to me graphically when I was discussing plans for use of some of my decentralized budget for education in Rideegama in Kurunagala. While I have over the last few years used part of the budget in the North, for entrepreneurship training for former combatants and this year for Vocational Training in Mullaitivu, and the rest in Ratnapura, where we concentrated on school education and English, I thought I should also more further afield, given that the Liberal Party has a couple of Pradeshiya Sabha members in Rideegama.

I had wanted to do English classes, and these will now be conducted in three GN divisions, through the Sabaragamuwa English Language Teaching Department, which had done the teacher training in Sabaragamuwa. But to my surprise I was also asked for computer training, in particular for Ordinary Level students, since there are hardly any computer teachers in the schools in the area.

I cannot believe this is true, and I am sure there is some exaggeration involved. But if this is the perception, then clearly there must be shortages, suggesting that the effort to enhance opportunities for all our children will come to naught. Ironically, I was told about the shortage on the very day that I heard, over the wireless, of a government plan to provide laptops to all school children.

In theory this is a good idea, but I was reminded about what my father told me about the ambitions of all Members of Parliament, first to become Ministers, and then to get Ministries which involve procurement. I don’t think this is entirely fair, because my experience is that, where commissions are involved in procurement, it is often not the Minister who benefits but various officials. But it is a pity that Ministers promote such projects, and make much of distribution of such equipment, when they should realize that the development of human resources is much more important than supplying equipment that may lie unused for lack of training in its use.

Unfortunately, when statistics are compiled about what has been done, it is much easier to record tangible benefits. These are of course vital, and the need for adequate infrastructure in areas that have been neglected is obvious. But in concentrating on these we sometimes miss the need for ensuring human development too.

One reason for this is that, at the higher levels at which monitoring is done, counting up constructions is much easier. Counting what has been done in terms of training requires monitoring at much lower levels, and that happens rarely.

It is for this reason that, at the Divisional meetings, we have suggested regular consultations that will assess local situations. Parents must be encouraged to note teacher shortages and deficiencies in basic facilities such as toilets and water supply and space for playing, and bring these to the attention of those responsible for education in the fullest sense. And responsibility for providing these should be allocated to manageable units, not as happens at present in terms of large educational Zones, where the shortages in rural areas are masked by excess supply in the towns.

I had no idea this happened, but I was told in Cheddikulam in Vavuniya that they could not get sufficient teachers because the Zone as a whole had more than enough. The problem was that they were stationed in Vavuniya, and refused to move to distant areas. I suspect this is true elsewhere in the country too, which is why Rideegama suffers even though Kurunegala is supposed to be relatively well equipped educationally. And one shudders to think of the deprivation in the slum schools of Colombo, with their close neighbours having more than enough of everything.

Unfortunately government does not seem to realize how many problems would be solved if they ensured equity in education, by introducing a school based system of teacher recruitment and monitoring. Now hours of time, and thus money too, is wasted in efforts to get children into prestigious schools, and then transporting them there through lengthy journeys. Given that this results in unwieldy classroom sizes, little teaching is done properly in class, which is why tuition has become essential even for students in prestigious schools. Meanwhile in rural areas students don’t even have teachers who do not teach, which means they have to do without tuition, or else they have to travel miles to urban centres to have at least a hope of getting through public examinations.

Radical reforms are needed, but the vested interests are too strong for this to be possible. I suspect it is only when fundamental rights cases are taken out that we might see some change. But since the plight of rural children is not a fashionable cause, this is unlikely to happen, and we will continue to fight over the few who manage to move on to striking distance of university – even though, as the recent recruitment of a vast number of graduates has made clear, getting into university no longer helps the vast majority with becoming employable.

UGC Chief given time till Sept. 12 to show cause

‘Contempt of Court’:

August 23, 2012, 10:31 pm , The Island

By Chitra Weerarathne

Chairman of the University Grants Commission Professor Gamini Samaranayaka yesterday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that he had tried his best to abide by the Supreme Court order of June 25, 2012, to recalculate the Z-Scores of the GCE Advanced Level Examination of August 2011, and to re-issue the new Z-Score as early as possible. Any delay was unintentional and he regretted any unavoidable delay with due apologies to the Supreme Court, he said.

Prof. Samaranayaka filed answer to a show cause order of the Supreme Court asking why he should not be punished for contempt for delaying to release the new Z-scores which were re-calculated, taking the old syllabus and the new syllabus, as two different populations. The affidavit, by the UGC Chief, said that as directed by the President, a committee of experts had been appointed to see how best the Supreme Court order could be followed.

The affidavit stated, "The committee had decided that once the Z-Scores are recalculated, as directed by the Supreme Court, taking the two syllabuses as different entities, the Z-Scores are to be amalgamated and arranged in descending order to give rise to the set of Z-scores of the GCE Advanced Level Examination held in 2011.

"In accordance with the second direction of the Supreme Court, the Z-Score which was to be released to each particular candidate was that which was extracted from such set of Z-scores of the examination. It was recommended further that the set of Z-scores of the examination so determined was the one that had to be used for admission to universities and other institutions of higher education."

Professor Samaranayaka has stated that by letter dated July 13, 2012, he asked the Commissioner General of Examinations to recalculate the Z-Score as ordered by the Supreme Court and to follow the directions laid down by the committee of experts, in doing the recalculation.

On July 22, 20012, the recalculated, Z-Score of candidates were released with the relevant district and island rankings, by the Commissioner General of Examinations.

Professor Samaranayaka has said that he took steps to implement the Supreme Court order, without unnecessary delay.

Professor Samaranayake has said that the media conference, held after the Supreme Court judgement, to re-issue the Z-Score, had been conducted by the Ministry of Higher Education and not by the University Grants Commission. He had said that he did not make any remarks to insult the dignity of the Supreme Court. Some remarks, attributed to him, were inaccurate.

Prof. Samaranayake was given time till September 12, 2012 to show cause as to why he should not be charged for contempt of Court.

Mrs. Gowri Thavarasa, was the instructing Attorney, who filed this answer by Professor Samaranayake in the Supreme Court Registry yesterday.

 

FUTA vows to continue strike

Mammoth rally in Colombo:

August 23, 2012, 10:07 pm , The Island


by Dasun Edirisinghe

Dr. Dewasiri (Pic by Saman Ranaweera)

Thousands of university teachers, undergraduates and trade unionists marched to the Hyde Park yesterday, accusing the government of turning a blind eye on their grievances.

Lecturers representing all universities in the country participated in yesterday’s protest organized by the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA).

Three marches commenced from the Viharamahadevi Park, the Gamini Hall Junction and Slave Island and protesters converged at Hyde Park, causing heavy traffic congestion.

The police closed all roads leading to the Ibbanwela Junction and there was a heavy police presence around the  venue of FUTA rally, which ended without incident.

University teachers holding placards with slogans such as ‘Save State Education,’ ‘Allocate 6% of the GDP to education,’ and ‘Give immediate solution to the demands of university teachers’ marched peacefully.

Addressing the rally, FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri said that the university teachers had been on a continuous strike since July 04 demanding that 6% of the GDP be allocated for education, university teachers be given a pay hike and consulted when decisions were made on higher education.

"We will not give up our struggle until our demands are met," the FUTA chief said.

Dr. Devasiri said that the striking dons had held several rounds of discussions with government politicians and top bureaucrats but they had ended inconclusively and the university teachers’ problems remained unsolved. He said closing universities was no solution and the real problem had to be addressed and a solution found urgently in the public interest.

FUTA Vice President Ven. Dambara Amila Thera said that the government was splurging billions of rupees on useless projects such as ports, airports and playgrounds to the neglect of vital sectors like education.

In spite of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s failings and blunders like her attempt to set up a joint mechanism to share tsunami relief with the LTTE, she had allocated about 3.4% of GDP for education, Amila Thera said, noting that before 2005, when the incumbent President was installed, a higher percentage of GDP had been set aside for education. He said the effort of the striking dons was to protect free education and deserved the unstinted support of the public. He lashed out at the state media for trying to undermine the FUTA and its trade union action by slinging mud at its President Dr. Dewasiri.

Pointing out that the fund allocation for education during the war had been higher than it was at present, the Thera demanded to know why the government could not increase funds for education in peace time.

Senior trade unionists, Bala Tampoe, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Service Union (CTSU) Mahinda Jayasinghe, President of the Inter University Trade Union Joint Committee R. M. Chandrapala, and Dharmasiri Lankapeli of the Free Media Movement also spoke. JVP MPs Vijitha Herath and Sunil Handunnetti, General Sarath Fonseka’s wife Anoma Fonseka, DNA MP Jayantha Ketagoda attended the rally.

No English, ICT for university entrants this year - SB

August 22, 2012, 10:07 pm , The Island

By Saman Indrajith

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake yesterday told Parliament that the English and Information Communication Technology courses conducted for university entrants every year, would not be held this year.

However, the leadership training programme, conducted for them in army camps, would be continued, the Minister said, adding that the new batch of students would be enrolled in October this year.

He said that the crisis situation caused by the Z-score problem had resulted in a situation where the English and ICT compulsory courses for the new university entrants could not be conducted. He said that action would be taken to reopen the universities for academic activities soon. The decision to close universities had been taken after a meeting with Vice Chancellors and deans of universities. Powers had been vested in him by the Universities Act to close those universities by issuing a special gazette notification. That gazette notice had been handed over to the Secretary General of Parliament, he said.

The minister was responding to a question raised by Matara District UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana.

Editorial

 

 

A big lie exposed

August 22, 2012, 7:38 pm , The Island

The problem with lying is that there is no end to it. Lies have to be remembered all the time unlike the truth. It was Mark Twain who famously said, "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." A lie also comes with a short lifespan and has to be replaced with another upon its expiry. The government's claim that the striking university teachers were reporting back for work in compliance with Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake's request to that effect has turned out to be a big lie.

Minister Dissanayake is left with egg on his face. He has had to swallow his pride and admit defeat. Universities have been closed indefinitely save those whose dons have not joined the strike and medical faculties. His statement on the circumstances that led to the current situation has left us none the wiser. He ought to tell the public how he proposes to solve the university crisis instead of venting his spleen on the striking dons at every turn and waiting till the dons get fed up with their trade union action and come back to work.

Several rounds of talks between the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA) and the government have failed. The government has apparently chosen to play a waiting game and the dons are standing their ground. The on-going tussle has all the trappings of a game of chicken, as we argued the other day, with neither side willing to backtrack. FUTA is all out to transform its trade union battle into a broader public struggle––it has already been dubbed Academic Spring––and the government's response has been to harden its stand and unleash its propaganda hounds on the striking dons scheduled to have a public rally today in Colombo.

The government's argument that FUTA should not get involved in policy matters is untenable. Not only university teachers but also all other stake holders including the ordinary public have a right to agitate for an increase in funds allocated for education. Policy making is too serious a matter to be left entirely to politicians and bureaucrats. This is a country where any nincompoop could enter Parliament with the help of black money and the mandarins in key positions fall over themselves to appease their political masters. Therefore, there is a pressing need for responsible trade unions and concerned citizens to make interventions to shape public policy. They, however, must desist from trying to usurp the powers of legislators and be wary of being manipulated by external forces with hidden political agendas.

It is nothing but a crime to keep universities closed indefinitely. The government and FUTA, at this rate, will take a month of Sundays to resume talks let alone solve the problem. They ought to take serious note of the plight of frustrated students wasting their youth in universities.

What is possible and feasible at this juncture appears to be an interim solution with a timeframe for negotiations so that universities could be re-opened. However, the government must give the strikers a cast-iron guarantee that they will not be taken for a ride again. As Minister Dissanayake remains obdurate and other government negotiators have failed to break the deadlock, a powwow between FUTA and President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself seems to be the only way out. After all, the President has gone on record as saying that he is for a win-win situation in dealing with the dons' strike. With the university crisis getting out of hand, the time has come for him to prove that he is a leader who talks the talk and walks the walk.

Cartoon, The Island

Cartoon, The Island